Package wrapping machine



Nov. 2, 1965 s. w. LANGDON 3,214,384

PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTOR. SAMUEL W. LANGDON m BY a ATTORN EY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

FIG. 4

IN V EN TOR.

SAMUEL W. LANG DON Nov. 2, 1965 s. w. LANGDON PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINEFiled June 18, 1962 United States Patent 3,214,884 PACKAGE WRAPPINGMACHINE Samuel W. Langdon, Rochester, N.Y., assignor to Reginald R.Kiefer, Fairport, N.Y. Filed June 18, 1962, Ser. No. 203,187 7 Claims.(Cl. 53-182) This invention relates to a machine for wrapping packages,and more particularly to a manually actuated machine for wrappingpackages in heat scalable and heatshrinkable wrapping material.

Heretofore machines for wrapping packages and the like in heat sealableand/ or heat shrinkable plastic wrapping material have been designed forindustries wherein relatively large quantities of goods are packageddaily. Consequently, most prior wrapping machines of this type have beentoo large and expensive to satisfy the needs of the small packager suchas the butcher, groceryman or small farmer.

One object of this invention is to provide a relatively simple,inexpensive, and yet rugged machine for wrapping items in heat scalableand shrinkable wrapping material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wrapping machine of thecharacter described which is manually operable yet which will effect acomplete sealing operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a package wrappingmachine of the type having jaws for fusing heat sealable wrappingmaterial about a package, and having electrically operated means forurging the jaws into operative relationship with one another.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from thespecification and from the recital of the appended claims, particularlywhen read in conjunction with the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of this invention, andillustrating the manner in which packages are adapted to be passedsuccessively beneath the manually actuated heat sealing and severing jawof the wrapping machine;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view looking at the front of FIG. 1, and withpart of the machine cut away and part shown in section;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 ofFIG. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 andlooking in the direction of the arrows, and showing in phantom by brokenlines the upper jaw of the machine when it is pivoted up into itsinactive position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an electrical wiring diagram illustrating one manner in whichthe machines may be wired to accomplish its purpose.

The machine illustrated comprises two, generally L shaped sealing andsevering jaws, the lower of which is mounted in a stationary, horizontalposition, and the upper of which is pivotal toward and away from thestationary jaw. Each jaw has one leg thereof extending transverse to,and the other parallel to, the path of move ment of packages through themachine. The cooperating surfaces of the jaws are resilient, and aheating element in the form of an electrically conductive wire extendsmedially along each leg of one of the L shaped jaws so that the elementconfronts and tends to be urged against the resilient, L shaped surfaceon the other of the jaws, when the jaws are urged into operativerelationship with one another.

3,214,884 Patented Nov. 2, 1965 A roll of center folded, heat scalablewrapping material is intended to be mounted on the machine, and thewrapping material is adapted to be drawn from this roll over a tablesurface adjacent the jaws. At the start-u of the machine, the firstpackage, which is to be wrapped, is inserted between the folds of thewrapping material; and the folds are then fused together along theirleading edge and the leading edge of the package by disposing theleading edge of each fold of material beneath the transverse leg of theupper sealing jaw, and moving this jaw down wardly to clamp and seal theleading edges of the material between this leg and the corresponding legof the lower jaw. Thereafter the package and the covering foldedmaterial, which at this time is still unseamed or open along one sideand the rear of the package, are moved far enough forwardly so that therear end of the package clears the transverse legs of the jaws, and willcient of the folded wrapping material is left between the rear end ofthe packages and these transverse legs to cover the rear end of thepackage when the material is drawn thereabout. The movable jaw is thenagain pivoted down into operative engagement with the stationary jaw sothat the folds of wrapping material are pressed into engagement with oneanother between the jaws and are fused together along both the trailingedge and the free side of the package (opposite to the side behind whichthe wrapping material is looped), thereby to form an L shaped seam,which with the seam previously formed along the leading edge of thepackage effectively seals the wrapping material completely around thepackage. Moreover, while forming the L shaped seam, the heating elementssimultaneously sever the fused seam medially along its length by meltingcompletely through the superposed folds. The completely enclosed packageis thus freed from the supply of wrapping material, and the leading endof the latter is provided with a ready-made seam for the leading edge ofthe next package. The next package is then inserted between the folds ofthe wrapping material and the operations above-described are repeated.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference, the machinecomprises a generally rectangular housing or base 10 having a shallowtray 11 (FIG. 1) secured in an opening in the top thereof adjacent oneend thereof. In tray 11 there are rotatably mounted two idler rollers 12for holding a roll R of center folded Wrapping material. A loadingplatform or table 13 (FIG. 1) is secured to the top of housing 10adjacent tray 11. A further tray 14 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is secured in afurther opening in the top of the housing adjacent the side of platform13 remote from tray 11. Tray 14 accommodates a plurality of parallelidler rollers 15, opposite ends of which are rotatably mounted in theopposite side walls, respectively, of tray 14.

Secured to the exterior of tray 14 along one side and one end thereof,respectively, are two elongate flange members 16 and 17. Members 16 and17 cooperate with tray 14 to form two rectangular recesses in one ofwhich is secured an elongate, resilient pad 18, and in the other ofwhich is secured a similar pad 19. Pads 18 and 19 are substantiallyrectangular in cross section, and the plane upper surfaces thereof areapproximately coplanar with the upper surfaces of housing 10. Pads 18and 19 also cooperate to define a reversed, generally L shaped,right-angular lower sealing jaw.

Secured by screws 22 in housing 10 at one side thereof is an elongatebracket 21 (FIG. 4). Fixed to bracket 21, and projecting verticallyupwardly therefrom through an opening in the upper wall of housing is alug 25. A further lug 26 is secured to and projects upwardly from theupper wall of the housing adjacent the end thereof remote from tray 11.Secured adjacent opposite ends thereof in aligned openings in lugs 25and 26 is a stationary pivot shaft 27. Rotatably mounted upon shaft 27is an elongate sleeve 29.

Mounted on sleeve 29 for pivotal movement therewith about shaft 27 isthe carrier or bracket 31 for the upper or movable jaw of the machine.Carrier 31 comprises two, spaced, parallel arms 32 and 33 (FIG. 1),which are secured adjacent their rear ends to opposite ends,respectively, of sleeve 29, and a generally rectangularly shaped tubularelement 34 which is secured between the forward ends of arms 32 and 33.Element 34 extends parallel to and overlies pad 19 of the lower jaw whencarrier 31 and its arms 32 and 33 are in their lowered positions asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Intermediate their ends, arms 32 and 33 haveinwardly directed, lateral flange portions 36 and 37, respectively.Flange 37 will overlie the pad 18 of the lower sealing jaw when carrier31 is pivoted into its lowered position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Resiliently suspended from carrier 31 by means of bolts 44 and springs46 are two rectangularly-shaped tubular elements 42 (FIG. 4) and 43(FIG. 2), respectively. Element 43 is welded or otherwise secured at aright angle to the side of element 42 adjacent one end thereof to formtherewith a rigid, L shaped member disposed beneath arm 33 and tubularelement 34, respectively, of carrier 31. The bolts 44 are fixed at oneend to the elements 42 and 43, and at their opposit ends are held bynuts for limited movement through holes in the flange 37 and tube 34,respectively. The compression springs 46 surround the bolts 44 toresiliently urge the L shaped member defined by the tubular elements 42and 43 away from the carrier 31.

Bolted or otherwise secured to the bottoms of the elements '42 and 43,and substantially coextensive therewith, are inverted, generally Ushaped housings 48 (FIG. 4) and 49 (FIG. 2), respectively. Secured inthe housings 48 and 49, and projecting downwardly beyond the lower edgesof the housing sides are two, resilient pads or cushions 52 (FIG. and 53(FIG. 2), respectively. Each cushion 52 and 53 is substantiallycoextensive with its respective housing 48 and 49, and is adapted to besuperposed above and placed in operative relation with the pads orcushions 18 and 19, respectively, in the lower jaw when the carrier 31is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Removably secured in the free ends of the tubular elements 42 and 43,respectively, are plugs or jacks 56 (FIG. 4) and 57 (FIG. 2),respectively. Each plug 56 and 57 is constantly pressed outwardly by acompression spring 58 (FIG. 4). The projecting portions of the plugs 56and 57 have secured therein screws 59. An electrically conductivesealing wire 61 (FIGS. 2, 4 and 5) is secured at one end to the screw 59carried by plug 56, and passes therefrom along the bottom of pad 52 tothe other end of the pad where it is secured by screw 62 to the tubularelement 42. A similar wire 63 is secured at one end to the screw 59carried by plug 57, and extends therefrom centrally along the bottom ofthe pad 53, and beneath pad 52 and upwardly around the outside ofhousing 48 to the side of the tubular element 42 where it is secured bymeans of a screw 64 (FIG. 4). Strips 65 of dielectric material areinterposed between the tubular element 42 and the ends of the wires 61and 63 secured thereto so as to effectively insulate the wires from themachine proper. The purpose of wires 61 and 63 will be explained in moredetail below.

The fixed end of arm 33 projects slightly laterally beyond sleeve 29 andhas a reinforcing plate 71 secured to the side thereof remote from arm32. The portions of arm 33 and the reinforcing plate 71, which projectrearwardly of sleeve 29, are adapted to pass through a slot 72 (FIG. 1)formed in the upper wall of housing when carrier 31 is pivoted into itsupper position illustrated by broken lines in FIG. 4. Pivotallyconnected 4 by means of a pin 74 (FIG. 4) to the rear end of the carrierarm 33 is the upper, bifurcated end of a toggle link 75. At its oppositeend link 75 is pivotally connected by means of a further pin 76 to theupper end of a further toggle link 77. Link 77 at its opposite end ispivoted to bracket 21 by a pin 78. v

Also pivotally secured to pin 76 is an elongate, rigid, bifurcated strap81. The bight portion of this strap 81 is secured by nuts 82 to thethreaded end of an elongate actuating rod 83. Rod 83 at its opposite endis pivotally connected by means of a bolt 85 or the like to a lug 86carried by the armature of a solenoid 87. Solenoid 87 is bolted orotherwise secured adjacent one side of housing 10 on an inverted channelmember 88 which extends between the sides of the housing. Member 88 atone end has an integral flange portion 89 which is secured to one wallof the housing 10, and at its other end is secured to the bottom of thebracket 21.

Secured to rod 83 intermediate the ends thereof is the sleeve or hub 91of a downwardly projecting arm 92. Secured to channel member 88 beneaththe actuating rod 83 is an electrical switch 93 for controlling theoperation of solenoid 87. A plunger 94 carried by switch 93 ispositioned in the path of inovment of the arm 92.

Whenever the carrier 31 is pivoted down into its lower, operatingposition, the projecting end of arm 33, through pin 74, lifts link 75 sothat pin 76 and link 77 are caused to pivot counterclockwise from theirpositions shown in broken lines in FIG. 4, into their respectivepositions as shown in solid lines in FIG. 4. This counterclockwisemovement of pin 76 causes member 81 and arm 83 to be urged toward theleft in FIG. 4 so that arm 92 engages and closes switch 93, therebyenergizing solenoid 87. The arm 92 is mounted on actuating rod 83 insuch manner that it tends to strike the plunger 94 and energize solenoid87 substantially simultaneously with the movement of the upper jaw intoengagement with the lower jaw. When energized, solenoid 87 causes rod 83and its U shaped member 81 to be moved to the left in FIG. 4, therebyexerting an additional turning moment on carrier 31 to urge the upperand lower jaws firmly into operative relationship with one another, andto insure the sealing and severing action desired.

After the solenoid 87 has been energized for a predetermined length oftime, a conventional timer (not illustrated) in the solenoid circuit isadapted to deenergize the solenoid 87 so that rod 83 will be free tomove toward the right in FIG. 4. The links 75 and 77 are not actuallydrawn into a straight line relationship when carrier 31 is in itslowermost position. Instead, the interior angle formed by the sides ofthe links facing member 81 is equal to slightly less than 180 duringoperation of solenoid 87. Links 75 and 77 are thus free to collapserelative to one another upon the deenergization of solenoid 87, and whenthe latter occurs, relatively little effort is required to pivot carrier31 clockwise from its position shown in solid lines in FIG. 4.

To help return carrier 31 from its lower, operating position to itsinoperative, or elevated position, shaft 27 projects axially outwardlybeyond lug 25 and coaxially into the bore of a torsion spring adjustingsleeve 101. Secured to the inner end of sleeve 101 on shaft 27 is anaxially bored plate 102 which has a plurality of equi-angularly spacednotches 103 in its outer peripheral surface. A detent 104, which is heldby screw 105 On lug 25 beneath plate 102 (FIG. 3), is adapted to engagein the notches 103 of plate 102. Sleeve 101 is externally threaded, andis provided with a central slot 106. Surrounding sleeve 101 is a coiledtorsion spring 108 which at one end 109 (FIG. 1) extends into a notch(not shown) formed in the under side of the carrier arm 33, and which atits opposite end (FIG. 4) extends into the slot 106 in the sleeve 101. Agenerally cup-shaped cap 113 is positioned over the end of shaft 27 andsurrounds the spring 108. The cap is secured to the threaded end of thesleeve 101 by a nut 114 which is threaded onto this threaded end of thesleeve.

To adjust the tension in spring 108 detent 104 is disengaged from plate102 to permit sleeve 101 to be rotated on shaft 27. Cap 113, and hencespring 108 and sleeve 101 are then rotated to effect the desiredadjustment. Thereafter dog 104 is reengaged with one of the notches 103in the plate 102 on sleeve 101, and screw 105 is tightened.

To limit the upward movement of carrier 31 about shaft 27, a collar 116is secured by means of a bolt 117 (FIG. 1) on sleeve 29. Collar 116 hasan integral arm portion 118 which projects radially outwardly fromsleeve 29 toward the rear of the housing 10. On its under side, arm 118is provided with a resilient bumper or stop 119 (FIG. 4) which isadapted to engage the upper wall of housing and limit clockwise movementof carrier 31.

In one manner of controlling the machine operation, the sealing wires 61and 63, and the solenoid 87, are connected in parallel circuit with anelectrical power supply, for instance, a battery as shown in FIG. 6.Switch 93 is disposed so that when closed it will simultaneouslyenergize solenoid 87 and permit current to flow through wires 61 and 63so that the latter become hot when car rier 31 is down (FIG. 4) and theupper and lower jaws are disposed in operative relationship with oneanother. Switch 93 is of the type which automatically opens after agiven period of time has elapsed; or the circuit may include a furtherswitch for deenergizing the circuit at a given time after the closing ofswitch 93, even though arm 92 is still engaging plunger 94.

When there is a center folded roll R of transparent, heat shrinkablewrapping material, such as polyethylene or the like, on the idlerrollers 12 (FIG. 1) the apparatus can be put to use by drawing materialfrom roll R across the loading platform 13, and inserting a package suchas that indicated at P (FIG. 1) between the folds. The tubular member orhand rail 34 is then grasped and the carrier 31 is pivoted downwardlyagainst the action of torsion spring 108 so that the leading edge of thewrapping material is squeezed between the resilient pads 18 and 52. Atthis time switch 93 is closed so that wire 61 becomes heated and meltsthrough the superposed folds of wrapping material, thereby fusing thefolds together along opposite sides of the wire and creating a seam S infront of the leading end of the package. The carrier is then released sothat it returns to its upper position; and the partially enclosedpackage, and the wrapping material thereabout, are then advanced untilthe package is positioned as at P in FIG. 1. Carrier 31 is again pivoteddown, and now the heated wires 61 and 63 melt through the superposedfilm along the open side and behind the trailing end of the package.Wire 63 thus forms a seam S along the side of the package; and wire 61forms both a seam S along the trailing edge of the package, and a seam Sfor the leading edge of the next successive package. The package inposition P is thus completely sealed in the wrapping material, and issevered from the supply roll R of wrapping material so that it mayreadily be conveyed over idler rollers into the position P on adischarge platform 121 which is bolted to the end of housing 10 remotefrom the supply roll R. From platform 121 the wrapped packages may bepassed through a shrink tunnel to cause the wrapping material to shrinksnugly about the package.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that applicant has providedcompact and efiicient wrapping apparatus, which, although manuallyoperable, requires little or no physical effort on the part of theoperator. Moreover,

by employing L shaped sealing and severing jaws in combination withcenter folded wrapping material, applicant has provided a novel wrappingmethod which eliminates the need for employing rectangular jaws whichwould completely surround the package being sealed. In addition,applicants solenoid operated toggle device for squeezing the heatsealing and severing jaws together not only eliminates the need forexpending considerable physical effort in seaming the wrapping materialabout a package, but also, it is designed to be self releasing, so thatonce the jaws are pressed together, the operator's hands are free toperform other tasks. After the jaws have been disposed in operativerelation with one another for a predetermined period of time, theautomatic deenergization of solenoid 87 permits torsion spring 108 toelevate carrier 31. By the arrangement of toggle links illustrated, itis possible for applicant to employ a relatively small solenoid 87 totransmit a relatively large turning moment to carrier 31 and the upperjaw, and it is unnecessary to force the links and 77 to collapse forreleasing the extended toggle.

While the invention has been described in connection with a specificembodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of furthermodification, and this application is intended to cover any variations,uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, theprinciples of the invention and including such departures from thepresent disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the artto which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essentialfeatures hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of theinvention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A machine for wrapping packages comprising (a) two jaws havingresilient, generally L shaped surfaces,

(b) manually operable means for moving said jaws from an inoperativeposition in which said surfaces are spaced from one another toward anoperative position in which said surfaces are urged into superposed,operative relationship with one another,

(c) seaming means carried by one of said jaws for seaming togetherportions of wrapping material superposed between said surfaces, whensaid jaws are in said operative position, to provide an L shaped seamabout a package,

(d) electrically actuated means operative in response to the movement ofsaid jaws a predetermined distance toward said operative positionautomatically to urge said jaws positively into said operative position,

(e) one of said jaws being fixed on a stationary support,

(f) the other of said jaws being mounted on said support to pivot towardand away from said fixed jaw, and the last-named means including (g) atoggle linkage interposed between said support and said other jaw, andoperative when extended to urge said other jaw into operative relationwith said fixed jaw, and

a solenoid connected to said linkage and operative, when said jaws havebeen moved said predetermined distance, to move said linkage to itsextended position thereby to force said other jaw into operativeposition under pressure.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said toggle linkage comprises(a) first and second levers pivotally connected to one another adjacentone of their ends, and pivotally connected at their opposite ends tosaid support and to said other jaw, respectively,

(b) said levers in their extended positions being disposed in a nearlystraight line relationship with one another.

3. A machine as defined in claim 1 including (a) a torsion springconstantly urging said other jaw away from said fixed jaw, and

(b) means for deenergizing said solenoid a predetermined time aftermovement of said jaws into operative relationship with one another topermit said torsion spring to move said other jaw away from said fixedjaw.

4. A machine for wrapping packages in heat scalable wrapping materialcomprising (a) support,

- (b) at least two jaws between which superposed portions of heatsealable wrapping material are adapted to be squeezed,

(c) means mounting one of said jaws on said support for pivotal movementtoward and away from the other of said jaws, said other jaw being fixedto said support,

- ((1) first electrically actuated means operatively connected betweensaid support and said one jaw for urging said jaws positively intooperative relation with one another to squeeze therebetween saidportions of material,

(e) second electrically actuated heat sealing and severing means carriedby one of said jaws to engage and fuse together said superposed portionsof material, when said jaws are disposed in said operative relationshipwith one another,

(f) electrical switch means operative upon a predetermined movement ofsaid one jaw toward said other jaw to actuate both of said first andsecond electrically actuated means simultaneously, and for apredetermined period of time, and said first electrically actuated meansincluding (g) a member movable by said one jaw to actuate said switchmeans upon said predetermined movement of 1 said one jaw toward saidother jaw.

5. A machine as defined in claim 4, wherein said mounting meanscomprises (a) a spring constantly urging said one jaw away from saidother jaw, and

(b) manually operable means for adjusting the tension in said spring. V

6. A machine for wrapping packages comprising (a) a stationary supporthaving a resilient surface thereon across which superposed folds ofwrapping material are adapted to be positioned,

(b) an L shaped jaw movably mounted on saidsupport to pivot toward andaway from said surface, (0) a first lever pivotally connected at one endto said movable jaw,

(d) a second lever connected at one end to said support to pivot about afixed axis,

(e) a pin pivotally connecting the opposite ends of said levers to oneanother and movable angularly about said fixed axis to a lockingposition in which it causes said levers to urge said jaw into operativerelationship with said surface to press thereagainst said superposedfolds of wrapping material,

'(f) a solenoid mounted on said support,

(g) a further lever connecting said pin to the armature of saidsolenoid, and

(h) means operative to energize said solenoid when said movable jaw hasmoved a predetermined distance toward said surface, said armature beingoperative to move said pin to said locking position when said solenoidis energized.

7. A machine as defined in claim 6 including (a) an electricallyconductive wire extending centrally along each leg of said L shaped jawto engage said folds when said jaw is disposed in operative relationshipwith said surface, and

('b) the last-named menas being operative to permit currence to flowthrough said wire when said solenoid is energized.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Rivman et al.53-28 FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Examiner.

1. A MACHINE FOR WRAPPING PACKAGES COMPRISING (A) TWO JAWS HAVINGRESILIENT, GENERALLY L SHAPED SURFACES, (B) MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS FORMOVING SAID JAWS FROM AN INOPERATIVE POSITION IN WHICH SAID SURFACES ARESPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER TOWARD AN OPERATIVE POSITION IN WHICH SAIDSURFACES ARE URGED INTO SUPERPOSED, OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH ONEANOTHER, (C) SEAMING MEANS CARRIED BY ONE OF SAID JAWS FOR SEAMINGTOGETHER PORTIONS OF WRAPPING MATERIAL SUPERPOSED BETWEEN SAID SURFACES,WHEN SAID JAWS ARE IN SAID OPERATIVE POSITION, TO PROVIDE AN L SHAPEDSEAM ABOUT A PACKAGE, (D) ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED MEANS OPERATIVE INRESPONSE TO THE MOVEMENT OF SAID JAWS A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE TOWARDSAID OPERATIVE POSITION AUTOMATICALLY TO URGE SAID JAWS POSITIVELY INTOSAID OPERATIVE POSITION, (E) ONE OF SAID JAWS BEING FIXED ON ASTATIONARY SUPPORT,